Putting Public Health Research Into Practice

Over the summer, TriMetrix team member Keya Chilka completed her Master of Public Health (MPH) practicum at TriMetrix as part of her graduate program at George Mason University. Under the supervision of Director Gila Shusterman, Keya applied her academic training to research aligned with TriMetrix’s work while continuing to build her expertise as a member of our team.

As part of her practicum, Keya developed a conference poster examining older adult perpetrators of child maltreatment. The project involved restructuring data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) to examine information at the perpetrator level rather than the child level. Through the process, Keya strengthened her skills in SPSS syntax, data visualization, and communicating research findings. She plans to submit an abstract to present the poster at the Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children (APSAC) conference next June.

Keya also contributed to our ongoing research exploring the use of artificial intelligence in adult protective services (APS) casework. She developed a literature review and background materials that helped her learn more about the APS field and the opportunities and considerations surrounding AI in this work.

At the conclusion of her practicum, Keya presented both projects August 4 at George Mason University’s Practicum Showcase and Celebration. Her experience was also highlighted by George Mason University’s College of Public Health as part of a spotlight on student practicum experiences.

Keya will continue her MPH coursework throughout the coming year and expects to complete her degree next May.

We’re excited to see Keya continue growing her expertise and bringing her research, public health perspective, and commitment to improving outcomes for underserved populations to her work at TriMetrix. Congratulations, Keya, on this exciting milestone!